City v. East Thurrock

Ahead of team announcement we can speculate whether Welch Hayes is back in the fold? Perhaps more a JG type player than for GO? And will Richards also start given his Keynsham debut? And who starts with Morgan?

Welch Hayes, Richards, Nat and Edwards start. Nick, Marvin and Jamie on bench. More footie on ground type team then.

And goals ! City 3 up at ht through Opi, Miles and Watto.

City win 4-0 with Tom Smith getting the final one. Att 907 on Student Day. Cant wait to hear about it.

That makes a refreshing change!

Well for me Matt Richards looked the player Darren Jones should have been!
Great team performance.

Listening to it on BCR was a rare stress free pleasure today. Sounds like everyone played well.
If the sort of pressing/passing game played under JG is the future, I wonder where Morgan and McCootie will fit in - as mentioned on BCR today.

Oh, and well done to all behind the Student Day initiative. So pleased that a big crowd was rewarded with a big performance on the pitch.

Yes, a memorable performance with some cracking goals. Thurrock couldn't live with us but that was their first defeat away this season. And a great turn out of students and school children. Hopefully they'll be back for more!

At last a good performance in front of a bumper crowd.
Miles Opi and Tom caused them all sorts of problems which unfortunately evaporated when Nick and Marvin came on. I don't think you see the best of either from the bench. Do they warm up enough?
Absolutely stunning pass from Watto for the fourth goal and cool finish.
Pleased the Gill style of play started to bear fruit. Still not convinced by Jarvis but you can't argue about 4-0.

Super display today, probably the best I’ve seen of that style since that game against Havant 2-3 seasons ago. First time we’ve controlled a game from start to finish for a long time.

Matt Richards was the difference today, gives Frankie and Tom Smith the licence to push forward, and gives the team the confidence to play Jerry’s way.....keeps thing simple, gets his foot n the ball an£ help# control tempo of game. He’s the sort of player we’ve probably needed for the last few seasons. Hope Jerry gets him to sign on the dotted line soon!

First half was the best we have played for a long time but it looked as though the score was not going to reflect this but that all changed with the 2 quick goals just before the break.
There were several contenders for man of the match as everyone on the pitch during the first half seemed to play well. As has been said Richards made a big difference, just sitting in the midfield and doing the simple things. We have missed someone like him.
The quick inter passing game did not suite Marvin and he looked a bit out of place when he came on. Nick did not manage to get in the game at all, I don't know what the problem is but he does not look anything like the player he was second half of last season.
Welch-Hayes was back to his best and a mention for Dan Ball - he was left out by Owers at the start of the season and initially Jerry Gill seemed unsure about him but since slotting in at centre back he has been excellent and must surely be a first choice in that position now.

I think Straker is getting better by the game as well. Defensively we were sound, backed up by a goalkeeper that I genuinely think could be playing for England in the next few years.

Jerry's early player recruitment has been excellent and Miles' loan spell has clearly done him the world of good.

Is it this Matt Richards? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Richards_(footballer,_born_1984)

Got good pedigree if not. Missed the game today but sounds like he played well.

I missed his signing being announced though?

Nah our matt richards head is shinier.

Impossible.

Agree with Stillman Junior about the excellence of Luke Southwood. I must admit that I had my doubts during the 1st game at Bognor but I think now he is the best goalkeeper we have had at the club in my 50+ years of supporting City.

Great game today. We looked like we were ready to shoot from the start and the build up play was excellent. We had already pulled a great save (the first of a couple) form their keeper before Edwards excellent goal. I put his confidence down to him being a loanee from another club but we looked ready to shoot all around the area from different players. Very impressed by Richards who appears to have brought back some of the Chas stability if not quite the passing yet, Miles Welch Hayes who deservedly got man of the match, Smith, Edwards, Straker and, as always, Southwood. The rest of the team played well as well but those stood out for me. Watto's goal and pass for the last goal was also exceptional.

Some vindication for Jerry, a useful win not only to break the bad streak but also against a team placed near us and a great foundation to build on. Next Saturday is a very interesting match. Play like today from the start and I give us every chance of a win.

Really enjoyed Saturday afternoon. Is Matt Richards signing for city?

Having watched back some of the goals with a punditry hat on, some of the non-tackling from the East Thurrock players is shameful. For Edwards’ their number 9 (Higgins) literally stops, allowing him to start his run.

During the counter for the fourth, their number 7 (Paxman) has done well to track back initially, then practically bolts up and let’s Smith tuck the ball in.

Still quality moves and executions but I don’t think the East Thurrock manager will see it that way. Anyway, we are now 12-11 up on them on aggregate after five games...

stillmanjunior wrote: Defensively we were sound, backed up by a goalkeeper that I genuinely think could be playing for England in the next few years.

He already looks better than Hart!

Interesting interview with Jerry Gill on Chronicle website

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bath-city-fully-deserved-thumping-764566

Not quite sure what this means for Nick and Marvin in the longer term, and I must admit I thought Jarvis did a lot of running around but to no real effect.

It's a squad game and we will need to mix it with some teams to get the ball to play.

Best game ive seen so far this season

Excellent performance from back to front - what a difference from the Whitehawk game

Only down sides was the subs, McCootie was poor and once again giving away free kicks. Morgan as usual rooted to the spot like big oak tree up top.